(String) request.getSession().getAttribute("forward") returns null?

Hi!

From the following code, what does it mean if forward  is null?

Why does this func passes string “forward”
request.getSession().getAttribute("forward");

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

public ActionForward create(ActionMapping mapping,
                                 ActionForm form,
                                 HttpServletRequest request,
                                 HttpServletResponse response)
        throws Exception {
…
…
        String forward = (String) request.getSession().getAttribute("forward");

…
…
       if (forward==null)
             return (mapping.findForward(Constants.RETURN_TO_VIEW));
     else
         return  (mapping.findForward(forward));
+++++++++++

thanks,
dkim18Asked:
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suprapto45Connect With a Mentor Commented:
Hi,

Well, 'forward' attribute is obtained from the session. So previously, there must be someone who already locate some value on that session and now you grab it (either from servlet, Struts class or etc). If the session is having no value, then it means null (nobody has ever locate some value on it or it has been set to empty).

So if the Java program know the 'forward' attribute is null, it will send your program into return (mapping.findForward(Constants.RETURN_TO_VIEW));
That particular codes is Struts ActionForward which means that Constants.RETURN_TO_VIEW must contain some value to determine (probably in struts-config.xml) where to go if the session is null. Otherwise, mapping.findForward(forward) will be used to determine the next location the program will go.

So it works like a statement to determine to where your application should go.

I hope that helps.
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reginabConnect With a Mentor Commented:
if the string forward is null it mean the set of forward was unsuccessful with this (String) request.getSession().getAttribute("forward");

they check to ensure the request.getSession returned value, forward appears to be an attribute which is set elsewhere in the code, from the snippet I cannot really tell, though perhaps likely this is from some file where attributes are listed, a bean, an xml file, a properties file, one of those.  forward is a session attribute though so whereever you have those defined you will likely find forward there.
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MogalManicConnect With a Mentor Commented:
The 'forward' attribute might be set on the request instead of the session.  Try this:
  String forward = (String) request.getAttribute("forward");
if the previous JSP page sets the variable you must specify the scope.  The scope can be three possible values:
   -Page - The variable can ONLY be accessed in the current JSP page (This is the default)
   -Request - The variable can be accessed in the current page, included pages and forwarded actions
   -Session - The variable can be accessed by ALL future pages by the same user
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